Manifolding ribbon support



MANIFOLDING RIBBON SUPPORT 5 sheets-sneak 1 Filed Sept. 6, 1934 INVENTOPG. M. SACERDOTE MANIFOLDING RIBBON SUPPORT Filed Sept. 6, 1934 Aug. 30,1938;

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Aug; 30, 1938. G, M. SACERDOTE I MANIFOLDINGRIBBON SUPPORT Filed Sept. 6, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 3-! Il ll INVENTOR1938- G. M. SACERDOTE 2,128,267

' MANIFOLDING RIBBON SUPPORT Filed Sept. 6, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR Aug. 30, 1938. G. M. SACERDOTE MANIFOLDING RIBBON SUPPORT '5Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 6, 1934 INVENTOR Patented Aug. 30, 1938UNITED STATES (PATENT OFFICE MANIFOLDING RIBBON sorrow! Guido M.Sacerdote, Bayslde, N. Y.

Application September 6, 1934, Serial No. 742,971

9 Claims.

This invention relates to devices such as typewriters, adding machinesand the like, where one or more auxiliary ribbons are employed forproducing copies in addition to the ribbon for producing originals,which forms part of the'standard equipment of an ordinary typewriter oradding machine. More particularly, the invention refers to improvementsin means for mounting the auxiliary ribbon or ribbons andits primaryobject is to provide, in a device of the character specified, novel andimproved arrnagements for mounting an auxiliary ribbon or ribbons,whereby the same can be easily inserted between copy sheets or withdrawntherefrom, so as to facilitate the work of the operator.

Another object is to provide, in a typewriter or like machine, equippedwith a plurality of auxiliary copy producing ribbons, novel and improvedmeans whereby said ribbons can be easily inserted between copy sheets orwithdrawn therefrom independently of one another, without interferingwith the normal operation of the machine.

A further object is to provide, in a manifolding typewriter or likemachine, equipped with an auxiliary ribbon or ribbons, novel andimproved means for moving said ribbons in and out of printing position,said means including devices for setting different sections of theribbon or ribhens in correspondence with the writing line, so as tofully utilize the printing capacity of said ribbon or ribbons.

A still further object is to provide in a device of the characterspecified, easily operable means for moving the auxiliary ribbon orribbons in and out of printing position, so as to enable the operator torapidly insert a new set of sheets in writing position and to thereafterinsert the auxiliary ribbon or. ribbons between said sheets.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fullyappear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed inthe appended claims.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front vertical section through the top of theframe of a typewriting machine, equipped with a manifolding attachmentembodying a form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the same Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryvertical longitudinal section through line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, in a reduced scale,illustrating the manner in which the ribbon supporting frames can becontrolled independently of one another;

Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating a difl'erent position of theauxiliary ribbons;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the ribbon guidingarrangement, corresponding to the position of Fig. 4;

, Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front vertical section similar to that of Fig.1, illustrating a manifolding attachment of a somewhat diflerentconstruction;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section thereof through line 8--8 of Fig. 7;2

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 10 is a detail vertical section through line Ill-10 of Fig. 9; r

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the arrangement shown inFigs. 7 and 8;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary rear view in elevation as indicated by linel2l2 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 13 is a detail vertical section, in an enlarged scale, through line13-43 of Fig. 11.

In manifolding attachments for typewriters, such as described forinstance in four other patent applications filed by me, entitled, Ribbonadvancing mechanism, filed July 6, 1934, S. N. 734,016, Reversibleribbon feed mechanism, filed July 6, 1934, Serial No. 734,015, PatentNo. 2,069,277, Feb. 2, 1937, "Means for preventing smudging byinterleaved printing ribbons, filed August 10, 1934, Serial No. 739,249,Patent No. 2,092,780, Sept. 14, 1937, and Printing ribbon coveringdevice, filed August 10, 1934, Serial No. 739,248, copending herewith,at least an auxiliary ribbon is employed besides the ribbon forming partof the standard equipment of a typewriting machine, the auxiliaryribbon, or ribbons, being caused to run in front of the platen for theentire length thereof in correspondence of the printing line. Eachauxiliary ribbon is usually inserted between two copy sheets, the frontsheet being transparent, so that when the keys are struck two copies arethereby simultaneously produced.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, 20 designates the frame of an Underwoodtypewriter, on which is mounted a carriage 21, carrying platen 22. Onsaid carriage is mounted a manifolding attachment frame 23, secured ontothe carriage thereof by means of screws 29. Said attachment frame isformed with two side uprights 25, 26, and a shaft (not shown) runsacross said uprights and carries at each end one of the auxiliary ribbonreels, 28, 29. a

A clutch mechanism (not shown), such as described for instance in myother two first above mentioned patent applications is provided, wherebyone or the other reel may be operatively connected to said shaft. so asto function as a takeup reel for an auxiliary ribbon or ribbons, whilethe other functions as a paying reel. The shaft is rotated always in thesame direction by some suitable driving mechanism, operative during thereturn movement of the carriage.

In the arrangement shown, three auxiliary ribbons, 30, 3|, 32, areemployed,-said ribbons being in superimposed relation to one another andbeing wound upon and unwound from said two reels 23, 23.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, the auxiliary ribbons 30, 3|, 32, runfrom one of the reels 28 through a slotted separating guide member 33,Fig. 3, then downwardly to the guide members 34, 35, 38, each having a45 deflecting slot 31, then horizontally along the platen incorrespondence with the writing line to similar deflecting slots 33,provided in guide members 33, 40, 4|, at the other end, then upwardly toanother slotted separating guide member 42 and reel 29. It is thus seenthat by virtue of this arrangement, the take-up reel will pull theauxiliary ribbons along the writing line each time the ribbon feed isoperative, the other reel paying the ribbons in accordance with theangular movement of the take-up reel.

In the arrangement shown each set of two oppositely located ribbonguiding members, 34-33, 35-40, 35-, forms part of a pivotally mountedribbon guiding frame, said frames being movable independently of oneanother and collectively forming part of an articulated ribbon guidingstructure, which makes it possible to easily move the ribbons in and outof their operative positionin order to facilitate their insertionbetween and withdrawal from the copy sheets.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, it is seen that a rod 43,acting as a stationary shaft, runs across the manifolding attachmentframe through uprights 25, 25, providing a pivotal support for two arms,such as shown at 44, one at each side of the frame, the front ends ofsaid arms being rigidly connected to each other by a tubular member 45,forming therewith a rigid frame structure, swingable about rod 43 fromthe normal operative position shown in Figs. 2 and 4 to the inoperativeposition shown in Fig. 5. Said frame may be operated by means of anextension 45, integral with one of the arms 44, said extension being soshaped that by applying the thumb thereagainst and pressing the firstfinger against the spring pressed lever 41, pivoted at 48 to the lowerextension of arm 44, a tooth 43 carried by said lever 41, can bedisengaged from a notch 50, in order to make it possible to swing theframe formed by said two arms 44 and tubular member 45, to the positionshown in Fig. 5 where tooth 43 can engage another notch 5|.

The notches 53, 5|, are preferably provided in a segment 52, which iscapable of a limited rocking motion about pivot 43 and which may be setat two different angular positions close to one another, as defined bynotches 53, 54, which may beengaged by a spring actuated pin 55,controlled by a knob 55.

The purpose of notches 53, 54 is to set segment 52 at one of two angularpositions, so as to cause the upper or the lower portion of theauxiliary ribbons to remain opposite the writing .line on the platen. Ifdesired, three notches can upper, lower, or middle portions of theauxiliary ribbons to be used, this being obviously done in order tofully utilize the width of the ribbons for writing purposes.

Tubular member 45 forms a housing for two tubular shafts 51, 58, nestedwithin one another and for a third shaft, 53, nested within shaft 53.Said shafts respectively connect ribbon guide members 34-33, 35-43, 36-4forming therewith ribbon guiding frames which may be separately rotatedabout a common axis from the lower or operative position shown in Fig. 6in connection with ribbon guide member 33 to a raised position, such asshown in the same figure in connection with ribbon guide members 34, 35.When said ribbon guide members are in their raised position they areengaged by a retaining spring clip, such as shown at 53, frlctionallyacting upon the same. I

The frame consisting of the two arms 44 and tubular member 45 and theribbon guiding frames consisting of shafts 51, 58, 53, and the guidemembers carried at each end thereof, together form a knee jointstructure, which permits swinging movement of said ribbon guiding framesabout the axis of shafts 51, 58, 53 and about the axis of rod 43. Theribbon guiding frames can be individually operated by'means of fingers,such as 5|, 52, 53 ,54, 55, 65, forwardly extending from each of theribbon guide members, so that the arrangement makes it possible toinsert in or withdraw each auxiliary ribbon from between the two copysheets served thereby independently of the others. The arrangement alsomakes it possible to use only one, or two, or three ribbons as required,the ribbons which are inoperative being held by clips 60, as shown inFig. 4, said clips 50 being mounted at the upper end of a rod 51,extending from its corresponding arm 44.

In order to maintain the ribbons taut in all positions, I cause theirtransverse portions running between the reels and guide members 33 to beengaged by leaf springs, such as 53, 63, 10, adapted to take up whateverslack might occur when the ribbons are moved from their raised positionshown in Fig. 5 to their lowered position shown in Fig. 2.

The ribbon guide members are shown in the various figures, especiallyFigs. 1 and 6, as being provided with inward extensions, such as 1|, 12,covering the marginal portions of the part of each ribbon running infront of the platen.

Such extensions, which should be extremely thin, have the object ofpreventing smudging of the copy sheets between which the ribbons areinterleaved and have been described and claimed in my other co-pendingapplication above referred to, entitled, Means for preventing smudgingby interleaved printing ribbons.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the structureillustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 permits of inserting each auxiliary ribbonin position and removing it therefrom independently of the others, sothat a maximum of flexibility is attained in the operation of thedevice.

In Figs. '7 to 13 I illustrate another arrangement, in which the sameresult may be obtained by moving the ribbon guiding frames about onlyone instead of two centers, so that the general construction of thedevice will be somewhat simplified.

In said figures, the reels 13, 14, carrying the auxiliary ribbons, arerotatably mounted at 15 be provided instead of two, so as to causethesomewhat at the rear of the platen 15 on about the same horizontalplane, as clearly shown in Fig. 8.

The auxiliary ribbon carrying frames, indicated at l1, 18, 19, arenested within one another, and are pivoted onthe same axis as the reels13, 14, each frame consisting of a horizontal tract 80, 8|, 82, and twoside arms, such as indicated at 83 in Fig. .8, each side arm having adownwardlydirected curved extension, such as shown at 84, each extensionhaving a transverse slot 85 at its upper end and an inclined slot 86 atits lower end, guiding the ribbons 81, 88, 89.

Each downward extension is also preferably provided with an inwardlydirected horizontal extension, such as 98, protecting the marginalportion of the copy sheets 9| against smudging.

Said ribbon guiding frames 11, 18, 19, can be raised independently ofone another to the position shown in dot and dash lines at 84 in Fig. 8,being held in said position by a light spring ledge 92. They can beoperated by means of laterally extending pins, such as 93, andfurthermore, they can be held in different operative positions by meansof a lever 94, pivoted at 95, adapted to engage any one of two or threeslots 96, formed in a lug 91, upwardly extending from the front portionof each arm 83. In this manner it becomes possible to set one portion oranother of the horizontal tract of the auxiliary ribbons incorrespondence with the writing line.

The ribbon feed may be effected by means of a drum, such as 98, mounted.on a horizontal shaft 99, running from front to rear, said shaftcarrying a pinion I00, in mesh with a gear wheel llll mounted onlongitudinal shaft I02, carrying reels 73, M. The operation of drum 98takes place each time the carriage is returned to the line startingposition, the rotation of said drum being caused by a tape I03, woundupon said drum, having its free end anchored to the typewriter frame atI84.

For a better understanding of the ribbon feeding mechanism reference ismade to my other co-pending applications above referred to, entitledRibbon advancing mechanism and Reversible ribbon feed mechanism.

It will be observed that a maximum of flexibility can be obtained in theoperation of my device, due to the fact that the auxiliary ribbons areguided and operated by means of. independent frames movable fromoperative to inoperative position and preferably adapted to be set atdifferent operative positions.

The structural details of my invention may vary from those shown, thedrawings being intended for illustrative purposes only and not in alimiting sense; I, therefore, reserve the right to carry my inventioninto practice in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly,into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a front strike machine of the character described, a platen, acopy ribbon, rotatably mounted reels therefor, a ribbon guiding framecomprising two side arms upwardly extending from a point in proximity toand directly in front of said platen at each end thereof, said armshaving means for guiding said ribbon to extend from one end to the otherof the writing line in front of said platen, and then from each end toone of said reels, said frame being swingable to move said ribbon fromits operative position in front of said platen to a position entirelydetached therefrom, so as to facilitate insertion of said ribbon betweencopy sheets, and its removal therefrom, and tensioning means for saidribbon, adapted to take up the slack due to the swinging of said framefrom one of its positions to another.

2. In a front strike machine of the character described, a platen, acopy ribbon, rotatably mounted reels therefor, a ribbon supporting framecomprising two side arms pivotally mounted on a longitudinal axis abovesaid platen, a ribbon guiding frame. pivotally mounted on a longitudinalaxis on said ribbon supporting frame eccentrically of the pivotalsupport thereof, said ribbon guiding frame having a depending ribbonguiding arm at each end thereof, for guiding said ribbon to extend fromone end to the other of the writing line in front of said platen,upwardly, and then rearwardly from each arm to one of said reels, saidribbon guiding frame forming with said ribbon supporting frame a kneejoint structure adapted to hold the horizontal tract of said copy ribbondirectly in front of the writing line of said platen, or to move saidcopy ribbon away from said platen, means for retaining said ribbonsupporting frame in either one of two extreme angular positions, andmeans -for adjusting the angular position of said retaining means.

3. In a front strike machine of the character described the combination,with a platen, a copy ribbon, and rotatably mounted reels therefor, of aribbon supporting frame comprising two side arms pivotally mounted on alongitudinal axis above said platen, a ribbon guiding frame pivotallymounted on a longitudinal axis on said ribbon supporting frameeccentrically of the pivotal support thereof, said ribbon guiding framehavinga depending ribbon guiding arm at each end thereof, and formingwith said ribbon supporting frame a knee joint structure adapted to holda horizontal tract of said copy ribbon directly in front of the writingline ofsaid platen, or to move said copy ribbon away from said platen,-

means for retaining said ribbon supporting frame in either one of twoextreme angular positions, means for adjusting the angular position ofsaid retaining means, and means for retaining said' ribbon guiding framein its inoperative position.

4. In a front strike machine of the character described, a platen, aplurality of copy ribbons, rotatably mounted reels therefor, anindividual ribbon guiding frame for each ribbon, comprising two sidearms upwardly extending from a point in proximity to and directly infront of said platen at each end thereof, said arms. having means forguiding said ribbon to extend in front of the writing line across saidplaten, from one end to the other, upwardly, and then rearwardly fromeach arm to one of said reels, each frame being swingable to move itsrespective ribbor from its operative position in front of said plateto aposition entirely detached therefrom, so as to facilitate insertion ofsaid ribbon between copy sheets, and its removal therefrom, and meansfor adjusting the operative position of said frames, so as to causedifferent longitudinal portions of. said ribbons to register with theprinting line.

5. In a front strike machine of the character described, a platen, aplurality of copy ribbons, rotatably mounted reels therefor, anindividual ribbon guiding frame for each ribbon, comprising two sidearms upwardly extending from a point in proximity to and directly infront of said platen at each end thereof, said arms having means forguiding said ribbon to extend in front of the writing line across saidplaten from one end to the other, upwardly, and thenrearwardly from eachend to one of said reels, each frame being swingable to move itsrespective ribban from its operative position in front of said platen,to a position entirely detached therefrom, so as to facilitate insertionof said ribbon between copy sheets, and its removal therefrom.

6. In a front strike machine of the character described, a platen, aplurality of copy ribbons, rotatably mounted reels therefor, anindividual ribbon guiding frame for each ribbon, comprising two sidearms upwardly extending from a point in proximity to and directly infront of said platen at each end thereof, said arms having means forguiding said ribbon to extend in front of the writing line across saidplaten, from one end to the other, upwardly, and then rearwardly fromeach arm to one of said reels, each frame being swingable to move itsrespective ribbon from its operative position in front of said platen,to a position entirely detached therefrom, soas to facilitate insertionof said ribbon between copy sheets, and its removal therefrom, andtensioning means for each ribbon, adapted to take up the slack due tothe swinging of its guiding frame from one of its positions to another.

7. In a front strike machine of the character described, a platen, aplurality of copy ribbons, rotatably mounted reels therefor, a ribbonsupporting frame comprising two side arms pivotally mounted on alongitudinal axis above said platen, a plurality of ribbon guidingframes, one for each ribbon, pivotally mounted on a common longitudinalaxis on said ribbon supporting frame eccentrically of the pivotalsupport thereof, each ribbon guiding frame having a depending ribbonguiding arm at each end thereof, and forming with said ribbon supportingframe a knee joint structure adapted to hold a horizontal tract of acopy ribbon directly in front of the writing line on said platen, or tomove said copy ribbon away from said platen, and means for operatingeach ribbon guiding frame independently of the others.

8. In a front strike machine of the character described, a platen, aplurality of copy ribbons, rotatably mounted reels therefor, a ribbonsupporting frame comprising two side arms pivotally mounted on alongitudinal axis above said platen, a plurality of ribbon guidingframes, one for each ribbon, pivotally mounted on a common longitudinalaxis on said ribbon supporting frame eccentrically of the pivotalsupport thereof, each ribbon guiding frame having a depending ribbonguiding armat each end thereof, and forming with said ribbon supportingframe a knee joint structure adapted to hold a horizontal tract of copyribbon directly in front of the writing line on said platen, or to movesaid copy ribbon away from said platen, means for operating each ribbonguiding frame independently of the others, and means for adjusting theangular positions of said ribbon supporting frame.

9. In a front strike machine of the character described, a platen, aplurality of copy ribbons, rotatably mounted reels therefor, anindividual ribbon guiding frame for each ribbon, each frame having meansfor guiding said ribbon to extend in front of the writing line acrosssaid platen from one end to the other, each frame being swingable tomove its respective ribbon from its operative position in front of saidplaten, to a position entirely detached therefrom, so as to facilitateinsertion of said ribbon between copy sheets, and its removal therefrom,said frames being mounted on a common pivotal support, and means forselectively setting said frames at various operative positions, so as tocause different longitudinal portions of said ribbons to register withthe printing line.

GUIDO M. SACERDOTE.

